Musicals
As soon as sound was introduced to the movies, the movie musical was born. The musical was one of the most popular movie entertainments from the 1930s through to the 50s, before falling out of favour at the end of the 60s for audiences now being weened on Vietnam, race riots, political assassinations, flower power and psychedelia. The musical still continued onwards, albeit in a different form, with various efforts such as "Cabaret", "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", "Grease", "Hair", "All That Jazz" and "The Blues Brothers" appearing over the next decade. More recently, "Moulin Rouge" and particularly "Chicago" hark back to the glory days of the musical.
Right: Liza Minnelli does "Cabaret"
For The Boys (1991)
6.3/10
Director: Mark Rydell
Starring: Bette Midler, James Caan, George Segal
Bette Midler at her best as a singer who becomes a star while performing for the troops during WWII. James Caan and George Segal co-star. Read more
Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
6.7/10
Director: George Sidney
Starring: Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret , Maureen Stapleton
Some of Broadway's most memorable songs come from this satire of Elvis Presley's army induction. Conrad Birdie, the teenage idol, is drafted and agree... Read more
Get on Up (2014)
6.9/10
Director: Tate Taylor
Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis, Craig Robinson, Nelsan Ellis, Octavia Spencer, Chadwic...
Based on the incredible life story of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, the film takes a fearless look inside the music, moves and moods of Brown, f... Read more
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
7.3/10
Director: Norman Jewison
Starring: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman
"Jesus Christ Superstar", the bold interpretation of the hit rock opera and Broadway smash from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, tells the story of C... Read more
Cover Girl / Gilda (1944)
Director: Charles Vidor
Starring: Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Glenn Ford, George Macready
"Cover Girl" (1944) - This delightful Kern-Gershwin musical has Kelly's brilliant dancing, Silvers' burlesque routines, Arden's wisecracks and Haywort... Read more
Fame (1980)
6.6/10
Director: Alan Parker
Starring: Eddie Barth, Irene Cara, Laura Dean, Lee Curreri, Maureen Teefy, Albert Hague, P...
Gritty urban reality blends with vibrant song-and-dance numbers in Alan Parker's Oscar-winning musical-drama set in New York's High School for the Per... Read more
Blue Hawaii (1961)
6.1/10
Director: Norman Taurog
Starring: Elvis Presley, Angela Lansbury, Joan Blackman
Tour guide Elvis sings 14 songs and still manages to drive sightseers around the islands in golf carts in this lush musical that features great locale... Read more
Man Of La Mancha (1972)
6.6/10
Director: Arthur Hiller
Starring: Peter O'Toole, Sophia Loren, James Coco
The film version of this popular stage musical stars Peter O'Toole as Don Quixote, with James Coco as the faithful Sancho Panza and Sophia Loren as Du... Read more
Annie (1999)
6.7/10
Director: Rob Marshall
Starring: Alicia Morton, Kathy Bates, Alan Cumming, Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Vic...
A Disney remake of the classic family musical, with Kathy Bates as the dastardly orphanage matron, Alan Cumming as her equally unsavoury brother and V... Read more
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
7.2/10
Director: Bill Condon
Starring: Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, Emma Wat...
Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' is a live-action re-telling of the studio's animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as... Read more